People may serve as intermediate hosts of

People may serve as intermediate hosts of

• A. Taenia pisiformis
• B. Anoplocephala magna
• C. Moniezia benedeni
• D. Echinococcus granulosus

Answer: (D)

Humans can act as intermediate hosts for certain tapeworms when the parasite’s life cycle requires larval development in a non-definitive host. Echinococcus granulosus is the classic example: dogs or other canids are the definitive hosts, while sheep, cattle, and humans can ingest the eggs and harbor hydatid cysts in organs like the liver or lungs. This accidental development of larval cysts in people is what makes hydatid disease possible and why humans are considered intermediate hosts for this parasite. The other organisms rely on non-human intermediate hosts (for example, rabbits for Taenia pisiformis, horses for Anoplocephala magna, grain mites for Moniezia benedeni), so humans are not typical hosts in their life cycles.

Humans can act as intermediate hosts for certain tapeworms when the parasite’s life cycle requires larval development in a non-definitive host. Echinococcus granulosus is the classic example: dogs or other canids are the definitive hosts, while sheep, cattle, and humans can ingest the eggs and harbor hydatid cysts in organs like the liver or lungs. This accidental development of larval cysts in people is what makes hydatid disease possible and why humans are considered intermediate hosts for this parasite.

The other organisms rely on non-human intermediate hosts (for example, rabbits for Taenia pisiformis, horses for Anoplocephala magna, grain mites for Moniezia benedeni), so humans are not typical hosts in their life cycles.